Can opener and handle



April 26, 1932. C. B. WOODRUFF 1,855,812

CAN OPENER AND HANDLE Filed Nov. 11, 1929 ATTORNEY Phtentecl Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED. STATE PATENT orl-"lca CECIL WOODRUFF, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN CAN OPENER AND HANDLE Application filed November 11, 1929. Serial No. 406,453.

This invention relates to an attachment for cans and has as its primary object to provide an attachment especially designed for ap plication to the tops of cans of condensed milk, although it may be equall well employedin connection with cans o syrup, the,

I attachment embodying means whereby when it is applied to the top of a can, a pouring spout will be established at one side of the wall of the can at the top thereof and an air vent established at the top of the can at the opposite side thereof, so that without completely removing the top or piercing a large opening therein, the contents of the can may be poured therefrom with the same facility as from a small cream pitcher.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means for locking the attachment in place upon the f can top and which means will'constitute also a handle whereby the can may be conveniently held and tilted in the act of pouring the contents therefrom through the pouring spout.

Another object of the inventionis to provide-a can attachment for the purpose stated which, when the can to which it is applied is empty, it may be removed therefrom without difiiculty and applied to another can.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combina-- tion and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and speci-' fically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 11 is a top plan view of the attachment embodying the invention applied to the top of a ca gure Zis a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3iis a view in side elevation of. the attachment removed from the can..

The attachment comprises a longitudinal body member which is indicated by the numwill therefore establish communication eral 1 and which is preferably resilient metal and this body member, at one end, is

formed with a widened portion 2, which is of substantially triangular form, and if desired, may. be formed there-in with a triangular opening 3. The outenmarginal portion of the widened end 2 is overturned to provide a dependin flange 4, which is of arcuate form and o the same curvature as the wall of the can to which the attachment is to be applied so that when this end of the ,member 1 is applied to the can top, the flange V 4 will engage against one side of the wall of the can in a comparatively snug manner. The numeral 5 indicates a nipple which is welded or otherwise secured in the depending flange 4 midwaybetween the ends thereof, and this nipple has its inner end closed except at the opening 6, and tapered to a piercing point, indicated b the numeral 7 so that when the body me-m er 1 is disposed upon the can top and so shifted'that the flange 4 will partly embrace the wall of the can, the piercing point 7 of the nipple 5 will pierce the wall of the can and the opening somewhat flared and open at its upper side as indicated by the numeral 9 so as to provide a pouring spout. I I 7 The numeral 10 indicates a venting nipple which'is provided with a -fbore 11 opening through its upper end. The lower end of the nipple is closed and tap red to a piercing point, indicated by the n meral 12, the nipple however being formeqe-in one side with an opening 13, and by reference to Figure 2 of thedrawings, it will be evident that when the attachmentis applied to the top of the can, and after the nipple 5 has pierced the wall of the can, a downward movement of the body -1 at the outer end thereof will cause the vent nipple 10 to pierce the top of the can so that when the can is tilted air will enter through the vent nipple to displace the condensed milk or other liquid contents of the can which is delivered through the nipple 5.

In order that the end of the bod member 1, adjacent which the venting nipp e 10 is located, may be locked or anchored with respect to the can top so as to hold the entire attachment firmly in place assembled with the can, the said end of the body 1 is provided, with two spaced extensions 14 which project from the said end thereof and are turned downwardly to provide portions 15 which are spaced with respect to the wall of the can when the attachment is not in place. The lower ends of the portions 15 terminate in outwardly extending portions 16 which are overturned to rovide small pintle lugs 17 receiving the en s of a pintle pin 18 to the intermediate portion of which is fitted a pmtle lu 19 provided at the upper end of a curved handle 20, the lower portion of the handle being curved inwardly as indicated by the numeral 21 and thence downwardly as at 22 so that its lower portion will bear against the adjacent side of the can body. The pintle pin 18 is located at a polnt near the upper end of the handle 20 and the upper portion 23 of the handle is extended at an angle to the portion 20 and is provided at its outer end with a series of pointed teeth 24 which are designed to securely engage beneath the rim of the can top as clearly shown in Figure 2 ofthe drawings.

In applying the.attachment to a can, the depending portion 4 is first disposed ln position with the piercing end of the nipple 5 engaging the wall of the can near the top thereof and with the bend between the portions 2 and 4 seating upon the .rim of the top of the can, whereupon pressure is exerted a ainst the portion 4 to cause the inner end 0% the nipple 5 to pierce the wall of the can.

The handle 20 is at this time swung to a nearly vertical position and the member 1 is so arranged above the top of the can as to bring the piercing point 12 of the nipple 10 into contact with the top of the can. The handle 20 is then swung downwardly about its pivot 18 and the two ends of this portion 24 engage beneath the rim of the can top whereupon further downward pressure will cause the piercing end of the nipple 10 to pierce the top of the can and the handle 20 will assume the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, in which position, it will be maintained due to its resiliency and the resiliencyof the body member 1.

What I claim is V a 1. A can attachment of the class described comprising a longitudinal body member to extend across the top of a can and having, at one end, a pouring spout upon said portion having a piercing end to pierce the wall of the can and constitute an outlet for the contents, a vent upon the said body member adjacent the other end thereof havmg a piercing end to pierce the top of the can and provide for the admission of air into the can, and means at that end of the said body member, opposite the downwardly turned end, for locking the body member, to the can, the said means comprising a handle member pivotally mounted upon an extension of the said end of the body member, and a member movable with the handle member and extending therefrom and provided with a toothed end to engage beneath the rim of the top of the can, when the handle member is swung downwardly to position with its lower end resting against the side of the can.

2. A can attachment of the character described comprising a body member extended across the top of the can provided at one end with a pouring spout, said spout having a piercing end to penetrate the wall of the can and constitute an outlet for the contents, a vent upon the body having a piercing end to penetrate the top of the can and provide for the admission of air therein, said spout and vent having auxiliary ports misaligned with respect to the longitudinal bores and in communication with the latter, and a handle for the body member having biting engagement with the can to retain the attachment in posi- 

